Forastera

            A specialty of the island of Ischia near Naples. Its name is said to mean “foreigner” in local dialect, and this may be appropriate, as some sources say it’s originally from the Canary Islands.

            Casa d’Ambra buys the grapes from local growers and vinifies them in stainless steel. The wine is dry and light in flavor, vaguely citrusy and supposedly with hints of apricot and almond, although you’d have to taste hard to discern them.

            This bottle was a good accompaniment to our Easter-dinner salad of arugula and fennel with green olives and toasted almonds. The recipe was from the “A16 – Food and Wine” cookbook, which recommends a pairing with Biancolella, Forastera’s frequent companion in Ischia Bianco wine. (The cookbook, from the San Francisco-based southern Italian restaurant, provides good details on many regional varietal wines and in general gives wine equal billing with the cuisine.)